Medical valve with fluid escape space

Abstract

A medical valve has a body which includes a wall structure defining an internal cavity having an inside and an outside. The body also has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has an opening sufficiently large to receive a tip of a delivery end of a medical implement which transfers fluid through the delivery end. The body has a fluid escape space in its wall structure. The valve also has a spike with a tip and at least one hole located at or near the tip. The spike has a passageway in communication with the hole that allows fluid to flow through the spike. A resilient seal in the cavity surrounds the spike. This seal is adapted to be moved into a compressed state upon insertion of the tip of the medical implement into the opening. The seal is sufficiently resilient to return to a decompressed state upon removal of the tip of the medical implement from the opening. The fluid escape space is in fluid communication with the outside of the cavity when the seal is in its compressed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical valve comprising: a body including a wall structure defining an internal cavity having an inside and an outside, said body also having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end having an opening sufficiently large to receive a tip of a delivery end of a medical implement which transfers fluid through said delivery end;   a resilient seal positioned in said cavity, said seal adapted to be moved into a compressed state upon insertion of the tip of the medical implement into said opening, said seal being sufficiently resilient to return to a decompressed state upon removal of the tip of the medical implement from said opening; and   a fluid escape space in said wall structure of said body for relieving fluid from a space between said seal and said body, said fluid escape space including a groove located in said wall structure of said body and extending to the proximal end of said body.   
     
     
       2. A medical valve comprising: a body including a wall structure defining an internal cavity having an inside and an outside, said body also having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end having an opening sufficiently large to receive a tip of a delivery end of a medical implement which transfers fluid through said delivery end;   a spike positioned within said cavity of said body, said spike having a tip, at least one hole located at or near said tip, and a passageway in communication with the hole that allows fluid to flow through said spike;   a resilient seal positioned in said cavity surrounding said spike, said seal adapted to be moved into a compressed state upon insertion of the tip of the medical implement into said opening, said seal being sufficiently resilient to return to a decompressed state upon removal of the tip of the medical implement from said opening; and   a liquid escape space in said wall structure of said body for relieving liquid from a space between said seal and said body.   
     
     
       3. The medical valve of claim 2, wherein said liquid escape space comprises at least one groove. 
     
     
       4. The medical valve of claim 3, wherein said groove is located in said wall structure of said body and extends to the proximal end of said body. 
     
     
       5. The medical valve of claim 2, wherein said liquid escape space comprises a channel through said body, said channel located distal said opening in the proximal end of said body.